Assighstoe of one-half to



F. SLOAT.

GAR COUPLING.

(Nq Model.)

Patented July 24, 1883 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK SLOAT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO MARTHAW. PERKINS, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,935, dated fu-ly24, 1883.

Application filed April 4, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern/:-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK SLOAT, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use fulImprovements in Automatic Car-Couplings; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform part of this specication.

My invention relates to an improvement in automatic car-couplings; andit consists in the combination of a stationary pin, by which the link isheld in position, a spring-actuated block against which the rear end ofthe link bears, y

and a pivoted automatically-acting pin, which is pivoted inthe draw-headnear its outer end, and which is provided with a crank by which it canbe moved by hand, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to produce an automatic car-coupling,whichis designed to be used upon cars of all kinds, and which is soconstructed that it can be operated from the platform on the top of thecar or from one side without the necessity of the brakemen going betweenthe cars, and thus endangering life and limb.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a coupling embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a horizontal section o'f the same.

A represents the draw-head, which may be ofthe shape here shown, or anyother that may be preferred, and which has the stationary pin B passingvertically through it near its rear end. This pin catches in th'e innerend of the coupling-link C, while it allows the link to play back andforth, and prevents the link from being drawn from the head. For thepurpose of preventing this link from being broken and bent there is aspring-actuated block, F, placed in the rear end of the draw-head, andthis block 4 5 bears against the rear end ofthe coupling-link,

so as to keep it constantly pressed forward, ready to couple withanother car. When the outer end of this link strikes against a solidbody, the link is forced backward into the coupling until its outer endis flush with the draw- 5o head, and then as soon at the pin is leftfree to move, the spring-actuated block forces it out into positionagain.

Passing horizontally through the draw-head from side to side is thepivotal pin or bolt H; which has one or both of its ends formed into anoperating-crank, I. Placed between this pivotal bolt or rod is theswinging couplingpin J, which moves back as the link from the other carenters and then immediately drops 6o back into position, so as to catchinside of the link in the usual manner. To the crank upon the end of thepin may be fastened wires, ropes, orchains, which will lead up to thetop of the car or to the platform. This crank is also adapted to bemoved by any person standing on the side of the car, so that a personcan operate this coupling-pin, and thus free the cars from each other.

It will be seen that one link is always held 7o in position in eachdraw-head, and that when two cars run together th ese links enter theopposite head, and are coupled simultaneously.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- In a car-coupling, thecombination of the draw-head having the stationary pin passed downthrough it for the purpose of connecting a coupling-link to thedraw-head, the springactuated block which is placed back of this pin,and a swinging coupling-pin, which is pivoted near the front end of thedraw-head, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK SLOA'I.

Witnesses:

THoMAs J. MCGRATH, WILLIAM H. CAss

